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DETAILED ITINERARY |
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Day 1.
Yangon |
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 Arrive
in Yangon where you will be welcomed by
your local tour guide and transferred to
your hotel to drop off you luggage. If
you arrived by mid day flight, we may
proceed for lunch.
After lunch, a walk through �downtown�
Yangon, a diverse mix of faded colonial
architecture from the British times, and
high-rises built by more recent
investors; Sule Pagoda, built in the
early 3rd century is a landmark in the
city centre. Late afternoon visit the
magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda of Rudyard
Kipling fame and one of Myanmar�s most
sacred places. The massive bell shaped
stupa is plated with gold and the tip of
the stupa is set with diamonds and
rubies, sapphires and topaz � a stunning
sight as the sun sets and a most fitting
place to begin our trip in this �Golden
Land�. Overnight at the Hotel. |
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Day 2.
Yangon �
Bagan
by flight |
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 This
morning we head for the airport to get
the early morning flight to Bagan. Check
into the hotel and depart for a
sightseeing excursion around the Bagan
Archaeological Zone World Heritage Area.
A comprehensive exploration of Bagan
includes Nyaung Oo market; Shwezigon
Pagoda, the prototype of later Myanmar
stupas; Kyansittha Umin; Wet-kyi-inn
Gubyaukgyi Temple with exquisite mural
painting of 13th century and Htilominlo
Temple.
In the afternoon, after a visit to
lacquer ware workshops; continue to
Manuha Temple built by exile King Manuha;
Nanphaya, said to have been the
residence of King Manuha; Ananda Temple,
architectural masterpiece and Oak-Kyaung
monastery decorated with multi colour
mural paintings. Enjoy the breathtaking
sunset from one of the temple of Bagan.
Overnight at the hotel in Bagan. |
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Day 3. Board to RV Pandaw |
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 Mid
morning, transfer to the jetty and board
the River Cruise Boat Pandaw for our two
night cruise on the Irrawaddy River,
heading to Mandalay. You have twin cabin
accommodation with private facilities
and can watch the fascinating and
picturesque river traffic go by at a
very leisurely pace. All cabins are
outward facing. You can relax in the
Teak and Rattan Chairs on the
Observation Deck to watch the passing
views, villages, barges, oil wells,
little fishing boats, sunrise and
sunset. Dinner and overnight on board. |
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Day 4.
On board RV Pandaw |
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Cruise
all day and lunch on board. Morning stop
at the river village of Yandapo. Yandapo
is a rarely visited small village with
no road access to the world. Dependant
on the riverine economy this village is
famous for the production of terracotta
pottery made from river bank mud.
We see the pottery making process at
various stages and are invited into
people's homes. Yandabo is famous in
Burmese history as the place where the
Treaty of Yandabo was signed in 1826
between the Burmese King and the
British. Dinner and overnight on board. |
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Day 5.
Mandalay arrival |
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 Arrive
in mid-morning and transfer to our hotel
in Mandalay, the last capital of Myanmar
monarchy. Mandalay has long been known
as a centre of skilled craftsmanship and
in former times supplied the royal
courts. We will visit craft workshops to
see wood carving, bronze casting and
gold leaf making.
After lunch, you will take a sightseeing
tour of Mandalay which includes Old
Palace grounds; Kuthodaw Pagoda, known
as the world's largest book for its 729
marble slabs inscribed with the Buddha's
Doctrine; Golden Palace Monastery, noted
for its exquisite wood carvings and
enjoy the panoramic view of the city
from Mandalay Hill. Overnight at the
hotel in Mandalay. |
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Day 6.
Mandalay � Mingun � Mandalay |
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 After
breakfast, drive to ancient capital of
Amarapura, the city of Immortality for a
visit to Bagaya Monastery with a famous
collection of Buddha images; weaving
industries, two-century old U-Bein teak
bridge on the Taungtaman Lake and
observe the lunch process of thousand of
monks who take their last meal of the
day at 10:00 am in total silence. Return
to Mandalay for lunch.
After lunch, you will be transferred for
Jetty for a private boat across the
river Ayeywarwaddy to visit Mingun. The
dedications of King Bodawpaya such as
the unfinished Pathodawgyi Pagoda a
brick counterpart of pyramid in Egypt
and the Mingun Bell, the second largest
bell in the world are the most prominent
religious heritages. Then visiting the
Myatheintan Pagoda, the best
representation of the Universe, will
refresh your tiredness and fatigue.
Return to Mandalay and overnight at the
hotel in Mandalay. |
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Day 7. Mandalay � Heho
by flight & car |
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 After
breakfast, depart the hotel for flight
to Heho on the Shan plateau. Transfer by
road to Inle Lake and transfer to our
hotel by long tail boat across the lake.
Upon arrival, check in at hotel. In the
afternoon, we plan to spend the day
visiting villages and sampling the
spectacular array of traditional
handicrafts. You will see the unique
method locals use to row their boats,
fishermen with their own style of
fishing, floating farms and gardens and
a handloom weaving cottage with its own
showroom. You will visit Phaungdawoo
Pagoda which houses the five most
revered Buddha Images in the southern
Shan State. Overnight at the hotel on
Inle Lake. |
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Day 8.
Inle Lake
boat
excursions |
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 After
breakfast at the hotel, visit floating
market which is a 5day rotation market
most fascinating to watch the daily life
of the minorities and their activities.
Continue our excursion by motorized boat
to Indein pagoda complex, in the
south-west of the lake. The boat leaves
the lake and enters a narrow canal with
a beautiful natural environment to
continue to a small Pa O tribe village.
From the village, follow an old covered
path to a 13th century monastery and the
very impressive ruins of hundreds of
ancient pagodas, some hidden in the
vegetation. The main stupa-area on the
top of the hill offers breathtaking
views over the surrounding mountains and
down to the valley and the lake in the
far distance. Return to your hotel and
overnight at the hotel. |
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Day 9. Inle Lake � Heho
� Yangon by flight |
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 We
are heading back down country today to
return to the airport at Heho for our
flight to Yangon. Our route takes us
back to Heho and down the escarpment to
Nyaung-Shwe for a busy local market.
Check in at airport and fly back to
Yangon. Upon arrival, check in at hotel.
In the afternoon, we plan to visit by
car to Karaweik, a royal barge for
fantastic photo shot along the
�pilgrims� causeway across the Royal
Lake with stunning views of Schwedagon
Pagoda and visit the Bogyoke Aung San
Market (Scott Market) for souvenir
shopping. Overnight at the hotel in
Yangon. |
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Day 10.
Yangon departure |
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After breakfast at hotel, you
will be transferred to Yangon International
airport for your return international departure
flight.
***END OF SERVICE.*** |
